Commuting - What Car - 120 mile round trip daily - Max 2k!

[AuthurDaley]

Hi All,

Classic what car post... want to keep the miles down on my car, new roles means 120 mile round trip daily - 90% motorway.

Looking for something:
- Bulletproof reliability
- Low running costs
- Reasonable MPG (30+)
- New as possible
- Auto could be good, but appreciate likely looking at smaller engine cars in an auto is not ideal
- A bit of character or performance would be nice!

Initial thoughts:

- Suzuki swift sport 2008
- VW Polo 1.4 2006
- Ford KA 1.2 2009 (would this be gutless?)
- Fiat 500 1.2 2009 (would this be gutless?)

Any out of the box suggestions would be welcome! As-long as its reliable!

Cheers

[Bumblebee7]

Toyota Avensis

[ninjag]

Toyota or Honda would have been my first thought but if looking for some character at that money then probably the Swift Sport.

But if you are willing to add an extra £500 and higher mileage then you could get a 2007 Civic Type R GT which will be a more substantial car (and faster)

[louiebaby]

Considering something similar myself.

I think the answer might just be:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20190121415...

[blue_haddock]

ninjag said:

But if you are willing to add an extra £500 and higher mileage then you could get a 2007 Civic Type R GT which will be a more substantial car (and faster)

for a 120 mile round trip daily?

What the OP needs is something like a Volvo S60 D5 auto.

Brilliant Engine, plenty of MPG and really comfy seats.


For that mileage i couldnt think of anything much worse than a fiat 500!

[RedWhiteMonkey]

If I was doing 600 miles commute a week I’d be looking for an automatic (although that manual Lexus posted earlier looks nice) diesel and I’d be looking at comfort rather than performance.

There isn’t much on Autotrader (2k max, automatic, diesel, 30+ mpg, no older than 2008) but two things stand out:

A Mondeo that looks reasonably tidy for the money:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you want something with character there is this Citroen:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say look for a Mercedes C/CLK270/220 (you can get some well looked after ones with less than 100k on the clock) you'll be nearer the 40's on a run the drivetrain is pretty much bulletproof running costs are very (around VW/Ford prices for parts & sensible maintenance if you go to an Indy) sensible.

C270

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C220 Saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C220 Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

These tick all your boxes depending on what model you're looking at but you should be able to haggle very close to your 2k budget.

[junglie]

We were doing 250 miles a day between us (wife and I) in similar conditions that you mention.

I bought an E39 523i and E36 328i.

Both faultless. Both comfortable. Both had all the toys you would wish for on motorway jaunts. Both refined. Both hoovered up that daily grind for 2 years without missing a beat and would do over 30 mpg (one comfortably and one just).

Cost? £2500 the pair.

[CarlosSainz100]

Volvo S60 D5.....

[ninjag]

blue_haddock said:

for a 120 mile round trip daily?

What the OP needs is something like a Volvo S60 D5 auto.

Brilliant Engine, plenty of MPG and really comfy seats.


For that mileage i couldnt think of anything much worse than a fiat 500!

oh I missed that bit! lol Yeah, Volvo or Lexus would be a good call for such a commute.

[AuthurDaley]

Volvo could be a good shout, will check a few out. Thanks for the suggestions!

[junglie]

We were doing 250 miles a day between us (wife and I) in similar conditions that you mention.

I bought an E39 523i and E36 328i.

Both faultless. Both comfortable. Both had all the toys you would wish for on motorway jaunts. Both refined. Both hoovered up that daily grind for 2 years without missing a beat and would do over 30 mpg (one comfortably and one just).

Cost? £2500 the pair.

[AuthurDaley]

Checked out a 2007 swift sport at the weekend - great little car, but did 75mph and nearly 4000rpm - not great for 100 miles of motorway a day.

Part of me wants to go an look at an old jag or bmw 750

[louiebaby]

AuthurDaley said:

Checked out a 2007 swift sport at the weekend - great little car, but did 75mph and nearly 4000rpm - not great for 100 miles of motorway a day.

Part of me wants to go an look at an old jag or bmw 750

Swifts are reputed to be a great little car, just the sort of thing if you have to commute in town, or down lots of fast, narrow lanes.

For regular longer motorway journeys, you want a nice long wheelbase, a premium manufacturer with better handling of noise and vibrations, and a relatively modern and efficient diesel engine.

Automatics are nice for this, but there is every chance that you do 30-40 minutes of driving with out needing to change gear, so a manual wouldn't put me off. Get yourself to the £1-5K Barge thread to get ideas and opinions on running old barges, but with cheap old barges comes problems, sometimes.

With a budget of £2k, you'll be at the very ropey end of the 750i / Jag spectrum. If you want reliability at that prie, I think Volvos and Lexuses / Lexi might be your best bet. I did see a Mazda 6 for £2k locally, which might just about squeeze into view, if it was well looked after.

Try downloading a sound meter for your phone. I was getting just under 70 decibels at 0.8 leptons the other day, with a passenger holding the phone.

[Register1]

Bumblebee7 said:

Toyota Avensis

Avensis.

[ZX10R NIN]

Toyota diesels haven't got the best reputation, as I said earlier this is Mercedes 270/220 territory all day long.

[AuthurDaley]

Going to search for some Volvos tonight.

Had a brainwave today - what about a 2004-2007 Jag X type? If remember correctly these are just on Mondeo with some nice Jag touches - if that's the case Mondeos are a pretty solid car. Or am I completely wrong on that one? Anyone have any experience with the X type?

Cheers!

[stevemcs]

E270 on small wheels, comfortable and relaxing, slightly more reliable than the S60 too. If not a Mondeo or possibly Vectra. It does need to be diesel though just to keep the rpm down on the motorway, you should also be able to cover a weeks driving on one tank.

[Mr Tidy]

I'd think about a diesel BMW E46 3 Series as well - either 320d or 330d.

I had a 320td (Compact) many years ago that often managed 600 miles from one tank of diesel.

But I'm probably biased as I'm on my 6th BMW now.

[Jamescrs]

Skoda Superb with the VW 1.9 TDi engine

Should eat up the miles easily and be massively comfortable

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertisin...